Votes for Women 

A Brief History of the Women's Suffrage Movement

By: Amy Corwin



  • What is Women's Suffrage?

    3
  • Main Events of the Movement

    4
  • Accomplishments 

    5
  • What it Means For Us Today

    6


The women's suffrage  movement created an

amendment to the constitution  which gave

women the right to vote and hold an

elected, political office. Before this

amendment was added, women did not

have these rights. People who fought

for these rights felt that all people should

be treated equal.


The women's suffrage movement spans the years 1840 to 1920. Some of the most important events were; 

1848: The first women's rights convention is held and, during this convention the women create "The Declaration of Sentiments". This document lays the foundation for everything women around the country hope to accomplish. 

1868: The fourteenth amendment to the consitution is passed which defines voters and citizens as men only effectively giving women no rights. 

1872: Women around the country are arrested for attempting to vote in the presidential election.

1878: The Woman Suffrage Amendment is introduced in Congress. 

1887: The first vote on women's suffrage is taken in the senate and is defeated. 

1890: Wyoming becomes the first state to grant women rights through their state constituion.

1920: American women finally win full voting rights through the passage of the nineteenth amendment to the constitution.  

 


Women marching in the suffragists parade, New York City

During the women's suffrage movement, women fought to have the same rights as men. They were

able to work with and use many of the same ideas as the civil rights movement. In the end, women

were eventually granted the right to vote as well as hold an elected office. 




In many ways, the women's suffrage movement increased the rights of women around the country.

However, many would argue that women still have a lot of work to do to be considered completely

equal to men in all areas. One such area that has been gaining attention recently is the unequal pay

between men and women.